Mail-bag lock.



R. C. RICE.

MAIL BAG LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. was.

Patenfced A pr. 29,1919.

Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT 0. RICE, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO JOSEPH S. RICE AND JOHN N. RICE, BOTH OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

Application filed September 19, 1918. Serial No. 254,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. RIoE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Castle, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in mail bag fasteners or looks and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient form of lock which will be durable and effective in use and which may be manufactured at an extremely low cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention includes the novel features of construction and arrangement and c0mbination of parts hereinafter described, my invention being defined by the appended claims.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, an

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly broken away.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing the numeral 1 designates a lock casing which is mounted upon a base plate 1 provided with openings adapting it to be riveted to the end of the ordinary mail bag strap 2. Within this casing is located a spring bar which is preferably secured by having one end turned down and riveted to the end of the casing as indicated at 3. The spring bar carries at its other end a locking lug 3 which has an inclined under face terminating in an abrupt shoulder which is designed to coact with a similar shoulder 4 of the lock member or dog 4. This lock dog has a shank or stem 43 designed to be secured to the other end of the strap 2 and is adapted to be inserted in an opening in the end of the lock casing to engage the spring locking member or dog 3 said dog 4 being provided with a rounded shoulder 4 serving as a bearing for the finger to enable it to be shoved into engagement with the spring dog. The bottom wall of the lock case is provided with a stop 5 -to limit the inward movement of the dog 4.

The lock case is provided in its side with a key hole 6 to enable the insertion of a key 7 which can be turned to lift the spring out of engagement with the removable dog 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2- In combination, a base plate, a sheet metal casing secured thereto having an opening in its end, a spring bar having'a downwardly turned end riveted to the rear wall of the casing opposite said opening and having a beveled lug on the under surface of its free end, a dog insertible through said opening and having a beveled end and shoulder, a stop for said dog having an inclined portion overlying the beveled end of the dog and preventing upward movement thereof, said oa ing having a key opening in its vertical side wall, and a key insertible in said opening for lifting the spring dog.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT C. RICE.

Copies of this patent inay be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0." 

